Celebration
“A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God.” – Ecclesiastes 2:24
According to Dallas Willard, celebration is one of the most important disciplines of engagement, yet it is one of the most overlooked and misunderstood. He says, “We engage in celebration when we enjoy ourselves, our life, our world, in conjunction with our faith and confidence in God’s greatness, beauty, and goodness. We concentrate on our life and world as God’s work and as God’s gift to us.”
Celebration is often thought of in terms of worship, yet celebration differs from worship. In worship, we ascribe greatness and glory to God. In celebration, we are thankful to God and calling to mind the things he has done for us, our people, our family, etc. In a sense celebration is the completion of worship. It is remembering what God has done, because it is so easy for us to forget.
- Spend some time reading the following passages, and in your own words describe how you see celebration:
Exodus 15:20
Judges 5
2 Samuel 6:12-16
John 2
Deuteronomy 14:22-29
Ecclesiastes 3:12-23; 5:18-20
- One way to exercise the discipline of celebration is with your family. Determine a place that your family really enjoys and spend some time there. Reflect on what God is doing in each of your lives as well as in your family. You might need to schedule a celebration event such as this. Consider having a time of celebration as part of a family tradition or holiday gathering.
- Plan a party for those in your community as well as their families. As you plan this event, plan it in such a way that you will be able to exercise the discipline of celebration.